Liverpool are now on top of the league, with same matches as Chelsea but one point to the better. As I made way to home over here, I just looked absent mindedly at the sky. It was clear and full of stars. It looked nice, but really I was really feeling cold and there was no sign of the sun that can warm me up. Or at least it has a few hours to rise, and send a few rays to overcome the coldness of it all. And it’s not the coldness of someone sitting high up on his own, but rather more of someone that who is up there but is far from satisfied. The glass is more than half full but the water is murky and is doubtful how good it is to drink it up. Well actually, nobody is bothering to as nobody dared celebrate that we are on top of the league.
Another clean sheet, but equally evocative another blank upfront. Against a side that is known for its water tight defense as much as a net that has got more holes than a dirty tart’s tights. But sometimes it does happen and you just have to ride it all up. Liverpool dominated possession as it was expected from them. The stage was all set after Chelsea’s defeat against Arsenal. And Liverpool worked well hard on it in the first forty-five minutes and time was on its side. Sami Hyypia made an unexpected return, and this lad, or rather now more aptly this gentleman was there, moving the ball forward from the very back, and when a set-piece occasion presented itself he got up there and went pretty close on more than one occasion. The other unexpected call up was equally impressive. Yossi Benayoun was presenting himself and stretching the West Ham defense and for most times only the hands of Ilunga were getting in his way. Equally impressive he won tackles when very occasionally West Ham ventured forward. In the middle of the field, Steven Gerrard was passing around and bossing around but on the day he seemed to forget his shooting boots. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, some might say. Yes, in one particular moment in an FA Cup Final against the same side, the same person scored one of the best goals ever and practically drove Liverpool to a penalty shoot-out that as the custom goes, Liverpool won. Today, he was there, much better balls were being laid for him but something about his cohesion and balance was seriously letting him down as he either flung the ball into the far corners of the terraces or else he just didn’t connect with the subject that could have turned one point into three.
Upfront, Kuyt was his usual busy self, and got out one of the better saves from Green. It all ended there though. Robbie Keane was still probably green with envy as he didn’t even manage that. He got subbed by N’Gog on the 66th minute. N’Gog was equally helpless and while he’s getting his chances at the start of the match by the boss and the one who splashed out close to twenty million on him, it is equally damning that during a stalemate, he was subbed by this one million signing who looks simultaneously comfortable on the ball and assured upfront as a rabbit before the green lights for the pedestrians but with headlights glaring on him. Keane has been getting his chances, Rafa has been putting him in the starting-line up for most of the times, but in his allotted time he is simply not proving his worth.
And the story continues. One Monday night that at times felt more like a Monday morning after a heavy Sunday afternoon. But at least the joys of the Sunday afternoon which could have also been much better if chances were taken, is still very recent and not too far-fetched.
Another clean sheet, but equally evocative another blank upfront. Against a side that is known for its water tight defense as much as a net that has got more holes than a dirty tart’s tights. But sometimes it does happen and you just have to ride it all up. Liverpool dominated possession as it was expected from them. The stage was all set after Chelsea’s defeat against Arsenal. And Liverpool worked well hard on it in the first forty-five minutes and time was on its side. Sami Hyypia made an unexpected return, and this lad, or rather now more aptly this gentleman was there, moving the ball forward from the very back, and when a set-piece occasion presented itself he got up there and went pretty close on more than one occasion. The other unexpected call up was equally impressive. Yossi Benayoun was presenting himself and stretching the West Ham defense and for most times only the hands of Ilunga were getting in his way. Equally impressive he won tackles when very occasionally West Ham ventured forward. In the middle of the field, Steven Gerrard was passing around and bossing around but on the day he seemed to forget his shooting boots. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, some might say. Yes, in one particular moment in an FA Cup Final against the same side, the same person scored one of the best goals ever and practically drove Liverpool to a penalty shoot-out that as the custom goes, Liverpool won. Today, he was there, much better balls were being laid for him but something about his cohesion and balance was seriously letting him down as he either flung the ball into the far corners of the terraces or else he just didn’t connect with the subject that could have turned one point into three.
Upfront, Kuyt was his usual busy self, and got out one of the better saves from Green. It all ended there though. Robbie Keane was still probably green with envy as he didn’t even manage that. He got subbed by N’Gog on the 66th minute. N’Gog was equally helpless and while he’s getting his chances at the start of the match by the boss and the one who splashed out close to twenty million on him, it is equally damning that during a stalemate, he was subbed by this one million signing who looks simultaneously comfortable on the ball and assured upfront as a rabbit before the green lights for the pedestrians but with headlights glaring on him. Keane has been getting his chances, Rafa has been putting him in the starting-line up for most of the times, but in his allotted time he is simply not proving his worth.
And the story continues. One Monday night that at times felt more like a Monday morning after a heavy Sunday afternoon. But at least the joys of the Sunday afternoon which could have also been much better if chances were taken, is still very recent and not too far-fetched.
posted by jean paul at 2:02 am
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